Watch band and a method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A wire mesh flexible watch band which is ornamented with a series of clips. The wire mesh band is first compacted or compressed along a central longitudinal stripe. The compression of the stripe functions to densify the wire mesh to that the strands thereof become tightly engaged or integrated with each other. After the stripe is formed, a series of transverse slots are made in the compressed stripe for insertion therein of the clips. The clips are U-shaped, deformable members, the ends of which are inserted in the slots and folded over the inner face of the band. The central portions of the U-shaped members are recessed in a depression formed in the outer face of the band by the longitudinal stripe. A depression is made on the inner face of the band as well as on the outer face and the ends of the ornamental clips are recessed in the inner depression. Due to the depressions of the central stripe on both outer and inner faces, the band is relatively flat when the U-shaped members are in place.

g- 3, 1972 L. POMPEO 3,682,603

WATCH BAND AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Feb. 3, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P/PfSf/NG PUNCH/N6 INSA-R T/ON CL INC/"N6 5734 770 5734 TION U APE 57A T/ON [Z Z4 STRIPS 1! 1 L l zz f 1 i 7 Z L J 1 5 uuuunnununnunnunn nuungp mnuuunn f INVENTOR. [00/5 P0MP0 (252C451, WZ-QZY Aug. 8, 1972 POMPEO I WATCH BAND AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Feb. 3, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVEN TOR. 1011/5 Fauna-'0 nitedStates Patent Office 3,682,603 Patented Aug. 8, 1972 US. Cl. 29160.6 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wire mesh flexible watch band which is ornameted with a series of clips. The wire mesh band is first compacted or compressed along a central longitudinal stripe. The compression of the stripe functions to densify the wire mesh to that the strands thereof become tightly engaged or integrated with each other. After the stripe is formed, a series of transverse slots are made in the compressed stripe for insertion therein of the clips. The clips are U-shaped, deformable members, the ends of which are inserted in the slots and folded over on the inner face of the band. The central portions of the U-shaped members are recessed in a depression formed in the outer face of the band by the longitudinal stripe. A depression is made on the inner face of the band as well as on the outer face and the ends of the ornamental clips are recessed in the inner depression. Due to the depressions of the central stripe on both outer and inner faces, the band is relatively flat when the U-shaped members are in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention The invention relates to flexible, non-expansible watch bands and to a method for making such watch bands.

(2) Description of the prior art Heretofore, woven wire mesh bands utilized for watches have been drab and dull. Such bands are made of materials such as stainless steel, gold-clad inconel wire, or of solid gold or solid silver. In order to make their appearance more attractive and to facilitate their utilization with sports watches with sundry dials, these bands have heretofore been provided with punched holes of various shapes. The difiiculty with punching holes in the woven wire mesh has been that the ends of the wire around the holes work loose because they are not restrained by interweaving with other wire. This unraveling of loose ends is unsightly and the ends tend to catch in fabric articles and irritate or scratch the skin of the wearer. Other ornaments of these watch bands have included appliques of leather or plastic which were cemented to the woven wire bands in order to avoid punching holes therein. These appliques, however, work loose as the bands are repeatedly flexed when the watch is donned and removed. Features of this invention relate to the provision of a wire mesh watch band and to the method for fabricating the watch band wherein openings in the wire mesh are provided for support ornamental members and yet the prior art diificulties are avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (1) Purposes of the invention An object of the invention is to provide a watch band and an improved method of making the watch band where in an inherently flexible band is ornamented by non-flexible ornamental members therein.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of decorating a wire mesh band which comprises the steps of compressing portions of the band and then inserting ornamental members in the recesses formed by the compression.

It is another object of the invention to provide a wire mesh watch band which has ornamental separate members fitted in slots therein and which wire mesh adjacent the slots does not unravel.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of making wire mesh watch bands which consists of first solidifying the wire mesh as by compression or the introduction of solder, e.g. a precious metal solder, at each position it is to be slotted or cut and thereafter making the slot or cut in the solidified portion of the wire mesh.

It is another object of the invention to provide a wire mesh band having narrow transverse zones solidified either by compression or by the introduction of solder, e.g. a precious metal solder, for supporting ornamental members.

It is another object of the invention to provide a band having wire mesh of diiferent densities at different positions of the band and for supporting ornamental members at the positions of greater density.

Further objects and features of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the drawing.

(2) Brief description of the invention The invention relates to a wire mesh band and to a method of decorating a wire mesh band. The wire mesh band is ornamented by U-shaped ornamental members substantially contiguous to each other. The wire mesh band or strap is ornamented in a sequence of steps which consists first of compressing predetermined areas of the strap. The predetermined areas include a centrally located strip which is provided with narrow transverse indentations in one surface as a guide for slotting the central compressed strip. The mesh is solidified in these zones by the indentations. The compressed strip is compacted from both the inner as well as the outer face of the strap. Indentations in the compressed strap for the solidification of the mesh preceding slotting are provided only on the outer, i.e. upper, face. At the same time that the central strip is compressed, a succession of spaced indentations is made on the inner face of the strap at another position. These spaced indentations are selectively gripped by a clasp of the watch band and function to prevent slippage between the clasp and the strap. Further, the periphery of the tip of the strap is also compressed to facilitate mounting a metal edge. Instead of compacting the strap to solidify the narrow transverse zones that are to be slotted, the solidification may be accomplished utilizing a precious metal solder in said zones.

After the solidifification, the mesh band is slotted at the narrow transverse zones. Unraveling of loose ends of the wire mesh does not occur in the slotted openings due to the solidification of the wire mesh before the slotting. The solidification integrates the wires more closely with each other to form a single unified and cohesive mesh as distinguished from the relatively loosely woven mesh of the rest of the strap. The U-shaped ornamental members are then inserted in the slotted openings with the ends of each member being inserted in adjacent openings and the ends of two adjacent ornamental members being inserted in the same opening. The ornamental members are, in this manner, substantially contiguous to each other and form a single ornamental surface along the recessed central strip of the wire mesh band. The arms or ends of the U-shaped members are bent over or clinched on the inner, i.e. lower, surface of the band. The clinched ends of the U-shaped members fit into the shallow depression on the inner surface formed by the densification of the same surface. The clinched ends on the inner surface are not seen when the band is worn because they are on the inner surface against the wrist. The central portions of the U-shaped members are recessed in the shallow depression formed by the compression of the central strip on the upper surface of the strap. Accordingly, the ornamental members are re cessed on both surfaces of the strap to form with the strap relatively flat upper and lower surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus for ornamenting the wire mesh band of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wire mesh band at the start of the operation;

" FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the band which has first been soldered and then slotted;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectionalized view of a portion of the pressing station of the apparatus for ornamenting the wire mesh band;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3 illustrating the spaced indentations;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 3 illustrating the central compressed strip;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the wire mesh band after passing through the pressing station;

FIG. -7 is a perspective view illustrating the upper surface of the wire mesh band after the compression operation by the pressing station;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the punching station apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 illustrating the punching or slotting operation;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the upper surface of the wire mesh band after formation of the slots in the punching station;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 10A10A of FIG. 10 illustrating the compressed woven mesh;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the ornamental member insertion station operation;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken substan tially along the line 1212 of FIG. 11 illustrating the ornamental members before crimping;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the upper surface and the U-shaped ornamental members of the wire mesh watch band before crimping;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the clinching station operation;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 15-15 of FIG. 14 illustrating an ornamental member after clinching;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the upper surface of the wire mesh watch band with the U-shaped ornamental members clinched in position; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a completed watch band including the clasp and ornamental members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, a wire mesh band 10 of essentially uniform thickness is shown which is sequentially delivered to a number of operation stations 12, 14, 16, and 18 shown particularly in FIG. 1. The wire mesh strap or band 10, before processing through the stations 12, 14, 16, and 18, appears as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a relatively fiat elongated tapered mesh, a typical band structure being shown in U.S.L.P. 2,451,780. The wire mesh band 10 is moved to the first station 12 by any suitable means such as by the conveyor 20 which passes around a roller 22 shown in FIG. 1. The stations 12, 14, 16, and 18 are utilized to provide different mechanical operations on the wire mesh band 10 in order to ornament the band 10, in part, by providing a plurality of ornamental members 23. Any well known transfer mechanism (not shown) moves the band from station to station between operations. FIG. 17 represents the appearance of the wire mesh band 10 after the passage of wire mesh 10 through the stations 12, 14, 16, and 18 and the provision of a clasp 24 for engaging or attaching two of the bands 10.

As indicated above, the wire mesh band or strap 10 is fabricated or processed through a. sequence of steps which consist first of a compression operation at the pressing station 12. The strap 10 is compressed in thickness at predetermined areas including a centrally aligned strip 30, shown in FIG. 7, in the upper surface 32 of the strap 10. A similarly aligned compressed strip or depression 34 is provided in the bottom surface 36 of the strap 10. The two strips 30 and 34 may be of similar dimensions but on opposite faces of the wire mesh strap 10. FIG. 3, which is an enlarged sectionalized view showing the operation of the pressing station 12, illustrates at the right of the figure the operation of the jaws (ram 35 and anvil 37) at the station 12 which compress the strips 30 and 34. The dash lines 38 indicate the initial position or dimensions of the strap 10 whereas the solid lines indicate the dimensions of the strap 10 after compression by the jaws of the pressing station 12. The jaws also lightly compress the upper and lower surfaces of the strap outside of the strips 30 and 34 and indentations hereinafter described.

Between the compressed or recessed strips 30 and 34, the woven wire mesh 39 is compressed or densified but not to the point of solidification. The mesh 39 is tighter and more integrated than the mesh of the strap 10 at other positions in the strap 10. For example, the mesh 39 is more compact than the mesh depicted in FIG. 4 or at the left of FIG. 3.

In the strip 30, the pressing station 12 provides another function in addition to the strip compression. As shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3, the upper jaw 35 at the station 12 includes a plurality of indenting members 40 which create transverse indentations 42 in the bottom of the upper strip 30 of the strap 10 at narrow transverse zones where the mesh previously merely compacted it, in effect, solidified. The indentations or grooves 42 are shown particularly in FIGS. 5 and 7. As is hereinafter described, the strap 10 is thereafter slotted at the indentations 42 in the punching station 14. The indentations 42 serve as guides for the punches at the station 14 and also because of their solidification of the mesh enable a cleaner cut to be made. If desired, the mesh may be solidified at the zones 42 by introducing solder, e.g. a precious metal solder, as shown in 'FIG. 2A, and the com pressed strip 30 or 34 either retained or eliminated.

At the pressing station 12 the strap 10 is also indented along portions of its bottom surface 36 as illustrated at the left of FIG. 3 and in FIGS. 4 and 6. The jaws 35 and 37 of the pressing station 12 create transverse indentations 46 which are spaced as shown in FIG. 6 along two longitudinal strips on either side of the strap 10. The indentations 46 provide a better gripping surface and avoid slippage when engaged by the clasp 24 mentioned above in reference to FIG. 17. The clasp 24 engages the bottom 36 of the strap 10 at one or other of the positions indicated by the indentations 46. A different pair of indentations 46 is utilized for each relative engagement of the pair of straps 10.

:Returning now to the sequence for fabricating the ornamented watch strap, the compressed strap 10 is delivered by the transfer mechanism from the pressing station 12 to the punching station 14 for slotting at the positions of the indentations 42. As shown in FIGS. 1, 810, and 10A, punching station 14 provides aseries of trans= verse slots or openings 50 between the longitudinal edges of the compressed strips 30 at the top of the strap and 34 at the bottom of the strap 10. The punching station 14 has a number of punches 54 which provide for the slots 50. The indentations 46, shown in FIG. 6, 'at the bottom of the strap 10 are not slotted. As a result of the two operations just described, the strap is, over a portion of its length, fashioned to resemble a ladder with the ladder rungs constituting solidifying transverse extending sections of mesh extending between lightly compressed mesh side rails and separated by the slots 50.

During the compressing operation at the station 12, in addition to providing the indentations 46 and the two compresed strips 30 and 34, a compressed arcuate tip 48 is provided for supporting an arcuate metallic edge 52 shown in FIG. 16. I

The slotting operation does not unravel or loosen cut ends of the wire mesh forming the strap 10 due to the compression of the wire mesh between the recessed strips 30 and 34. The ends of the mesh are tightly compacted, effectively integrated, with the strands of the wire mesh in area 39 between the strips 30 and 34. The indentations 42 serve not only as guides for the punches 54 at the station but also to solidify the area 39 at and adjacent to the slots 50 to be cut through the area 39. The solidification achieved by further densification or soldering of the mesh adjacent the slots 50 prevents unraveling of loose ends of the wire mesh in the area 39.

After leaving the punching station 14 the slotted strap 10 is delivered to a station 16 for insertion of a plurality of U-shaped malleable sheet members 56 shown in FIGS. 11 through 17. The U-shaped members 56 are inserted in adjacent slots 50 in the strap 10 with two adjacent U-shaped members 56 having their adjacent arms 57 in the same slot 50. At the station 16 the U-shaped members 56 are pressed into or recessed into the compressed strip 30 so that the arms 57 extend from the bottom 34 of the strap 10. The arms 57 of the 'U-shaped members 56 are then crimped or bent towards each other in the recessed strip 34 to the position shown partioularly in FIG. 14. The U-shaped members 56 each enclose, accordingly, a compressed or high density part 58 of the area 39 of the strap 10.

Illustratively, the compression of the centrally located material or area 39 between the strips 30 and 34 eifects about a 50 percent reduction in the thickness of the strap 10 and the further compression at the indentations 42 about another 25 percent reduction in the thickness of the area 39. FIGS. 14 and 16 illustrate the U-shaped members 56 in position recessed in the compressed strip 30 at the top 32 of the strap 10. Similarly, the arms 57 of the U-shaped members 56 are recessed in the bottom compressed strip 34 of the strap 10. The U-shaped or orna mental members 56 are, in this manner, substantially contiguous to each other to form a single ornamental surface along the recessed central strip 30 of the wire mesh band 10. Due to the depression formed by the densification of the wire mesh on both the upper and lower surfaces of the strap 10, the tops of the ornamental members 23 in FIG. 17 or members 56 in FIG. 16 fit into or are recessed into the depression 30 on the upper surface 32 of the band and are essentially flush with said surface, and the clinched ends 57 fit into or are recessed into the depression 34 on the inner or bottom surface 36 of the strap 10 and are essentially flush with said surface. The clinched ends on the inner surface of the strap 10 are not visible when the strap is worn because they are on the inner surface against the skin of the wearer.

It thus will be seen that there is provided a wire mesh watch band and a method and apparatus for manufacturing sues bands which achieve the various objects of the invention and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various other possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, the present invention includes the embodiment mentioned above and depicted in FIG. 2A, of utilizing a precious metal solder to solidify the narrow transverse zones 42 instead of compressing or compacting the strip at these zones to provide for the densification or solidification of the mesh.

Having thus described the invention there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. The method of making an ornamented woven wire strap which comprises the steps of providing a woven wire strap having a uniform thickness, solidifying predetermined areas of the woven wire strap, providing spaced holes in the solidified predetermined areas, providing ornamental members having attaching portions, placing the ornamental members on said strap, inserting said attaching portions in the spaced holes for support of the ornamental members by the woven wire strap, and thereafter manipulating the attaching portions to secure the ornamental members to the strap.

2. A method of making an ornamented woven wire strap in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined areas are reduced in thickness from both surfaces of the woven wire strap so as to provide for recessed areas on both surfaces of the woven mesh strap for receiving the ornamental members and attaching portions.

3. A method of making an ornamented woven Wire strap in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined areas include a solder providing for the solidification.

4. A method of making an ornamented woven wire strap in accordance with claim 2 wherein the ornamental members are U-shaped and the method includes the step of clinching the ends of the U-shaped ornamental members after they are inserted in the spaced holes to fit the clinched ends of the U-shaped ornamental members in a recessed area on one side of the woven wire strap and to fit the central part of the U-shaped ornamental members in a recessed area on the other side of the woven wire strap.

5. The method of making an ornamented woven wire strap in accordance with claim 2 comprising the additional step of indenting the recessed area of one surface at a plurality of positions, and providing the spaced holes at the indentated plurality of positions in the recessed area.

6. The method of making an ornamented woven wire strap in accordance with claim 5 wherein the reduction of thickness of predetermined areas is accomplished by compression so as to densify the woven wire mesh between the recessed areas in the two surfaces of the woven wire strap.

7. The method of making an ornamented woven wire strap in accordance with claim 6 wherein the recessed areas provided by the reduction in thickness of the woven wire strap are central strap areas aligned with the longitudinal axis of the woven wire strap, the indentations are spaced grooves transverse to the longitudinal axis of the woven mesh strap, and the holes are spaced transverse slots, and wherein the ornamental members are U-shaped, and the method includes clinching the ends of the U- shaped ornamental members after they are inserted in the spaced slots so as to fit the clinched ends of the U- shaped ornamental members in a recessed strip area on one side of the woven wire strap, and to fit the central parts of the U-shaped ornamental members in the recessed strip area on the other side of the woven wire strap.

8. A method of making an ornamented woven wire strap in accordance with claim 7 wherein ends of adjacent U-shaped ornamental members are inserted in the same slot to provide for a flexible link strip consisting of the central parts of the U-shaped ornamental members positioned in the woven wire strap next to each other.

9. A method of making an ornamented woven wire strap in accordance with claim 8 comprising the step of providing a series of spaced indentations along the other side of the woven wire strap at the same time the indentations are provided at the plurality of positions in the central strip area in the one side of the woven wire strap, which series of spaced indentations function as stops to prevent slippage when the woven wire strap is engaged by a clasp.

10. A method of manufacturing an ornamented wire mesh band comprising the steps of subjecting an elongated wire mesh band to registered pressures on its upper and lower faces to form a compressed recessed strip, cutting spaced slots in the recessed strip, providing ornamental members having attaching portions, then inserting said attaching portions in the spaced slots to fit in the recessed strip, and thereafter manipulating the attaching portions to secure the ornamental members to the strap.

11. A method of manufacturing an ornamented wire mesh band in accordance with claim 10 comprising, in addition, the step of indenting the compressed strip at spaced positions at which the slots are cut.

12. An ornamented woven wire strap comprising a strap made of a woven wire mesh and having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a longitudinal axis, said strap having a central longitudinally aligned recessed strip of similar dimensions in both of said upper and said lower surfaces in alignment on opposite sides of said strap, said recessed strips defining spaced slots forming openings between said recessed strips on opposite sides of said trap, and ornamental members supported in said recessed strips and having parts inserted through said slots, said parts securing said ornamental members to said strap.

13. An ornamental woven wire strap in accordance with claim 12 wherein the mesh of said strap between said recessed strips on opposite sides of said strap is tighter providing for a greater density than the mesh of other areas of said strap.

14. An ornamental Woven Wire strap in accordance with claim 12 wherein said ornamental members have arms in said slots, a central portion seated in said recessed strip in said upper surface, and ends of said arms seated in said recessed strip in said lower surface.

15. An ornamental woven wire strap in accordance with claim 14 wherein the arms of adjacent ones of said ornamental members are in the same slot whereby said ornamental members together form an ornamental strip on said upper surface of said strap.

16. An ornamental strap in accordance with claim 15 comprising, in addition, a plurality of spaced transverse indentations in said lower surface.

17. A combination including two ornamental straps in accordance with claim 16 and a clasp mounted on one of said straps and detachably engaging the other one of said straps at said plurality of spaced transverse indentations in said lower surface of said other one of said straps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,750,125 3/ 1930 Prestinari 63-3 1,784,786 12/1930 Durand 29160.6 X 1,808,920 6/1931 Forstner 63--3 1,840,771 1/1932 Duerr 63-3 1,849,741 3/1932 Doppenschmitt 6 33 2,079,400 5/1937 Einsele 63-4 X 2,891,306 6/1959 Fontana 29-160.6 X 3,254,396 6/ 1966 Mushey 29-160.6

JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner V. A. DI PALMA, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 29513; 633 

